Edward james device



(N0.Mode1.)

E. J'. DEVINB. ELECTRIC TRAIN SIGNAL.

No. 541,389. Patented June 18, 1895.

UNtTnn STATES PATENT Onnicn.

EDWARD JAMES DEVINE, OF PORT ARTHUR, CANADA.

ELECTRIC TRAIN-SIG NAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,389, dated June 18, 1895.

Application filed December lll 1894. Serial No. 531,522. (N o model.)

To all whom it may concert/z.:

Be it known that I, EDWARD JAMES DEVINE, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at the town of Port Arthur, in the district of Thunder Bay and Province ot' Ontario, Canada, have invented a new and useful Electric Train-Signal, of which thefollowing is a specication.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in electrical sign als for railway trains.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and highly efficient means for indicating at each end of a train when there is a parting or breaking between any two of the cars. This I accomplish by providing a complete electric connection between all the cars of the train, a bell or signal being located in the cab or engine and also in the rearmost car or caboose of a freight train. At the end of each car the electric wires are passed th rough circuit closers, provided with pivoted tongues and the respective wires of adjoining cars are coupled together. Upon a break between any two cars saidA tongues fall and close the electric circuit, causing a signal to be given at one end of each of the parted sections.

The invention comprises the novel features of construction and also the detail combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation showing the end portions of two box-cars provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of one of the signal-boxes, showing the tongue extended in full lines and lowered in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a rear-face view of said box. Fig. -it is a diagrammatical view of the circuit-wires. Fig. 5 is a slightly-modified arrangement thereof. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged v views of the couplers, the former being in plan and the latter a vertical crosssectional view.

Referring to the drawings, A, A', designate the frames of two cars of which a series constitute the train. In each car, it may be along the top thereof, is arranged a series of electric wires l, 2, 3, and 4. At the end of each car is a circuit closer a, which, in its construction, comprises a box or frame ct attached to the car and having an upper inclined top a2 anda front opening or cut away portion a3. At the top of this opening is hinged or pivoted a shield or tongue a4, which when loW- ered into perpendicular position lits in the opening or cut-away portion a3. A spring a5 serves to force this shield or tongue downward. The four wires above noted are passed into the box or frame and also longitudinally into the shield or tongue passing out through the outer end of the latter. These Wires are insulated, save the wires 2 and 4 at the point w (and wires l and 3 in the next adjoining car) where they are designed to contact to close the circuit when the Vshield or tongue is lowered. To enable this the wire 4 upon entering thebox or frame is carried around the inner walls of the latter and across the lower portion of opening a3, while the wire 2 is preferably slightly bowed or projected inward from the tongue, as at b. I have shown these wires as forming the hinge or supports for the pivots of the shield or tongue. The extended ends of these Wires beyond the end of the shield or tongue are connected to an insulated coupler O, which consists of four bent, or ap` proximately U-shape (in cross-section) copper plates d embedded at d in gutta-percha or its equivalent.

The plates of the coupler of one car are designed to lit over and engage the plates of the coupler of the adjoining car. A semi-cylindrical tube d2 is attached to each coupler, whereby when two couplers are united a coinplete inclosing tube for the couplet' plates is provided. These tubular members are held together by a clamp or collar D composed of two parts e having central curved portions c and straight ends c2. These parts are drawn together for uniting the tube sections by springs c3. lVhen the couplers areunited the corresponding wires of 'adjoining cars are connected together, thus forming a complete circuit with insulated connections between every two cars. A shield e4 at the end of the car protects the parts from ice and snow.

It often happens that freight and passenger cars are turned end for end in traveling over different roads. Ordinarily this would result in destroying the continuity of the electric wires in circuit as the wires of one car would not correspond with the same wires of an adjoining car.

This ditnculty is avoided by IOO changing the position of the Wires in every second signal, as shown in Fig. 5, where the positions of the wires 1 and 4 and 2 and 3 are respectively changed. WVhen the insulated coupler of one car is being connected with that of another it will suffice to give each a quarter twist, and the vrespective Wires will meet each other, thus establishing a complete elec tric connection between the difterentcars.`

The bell and batteries are indicated at w. It is preferred to arrange the same in both the engine cab and rear car or caboose,the'wires 2 and 4 being, for example, in circuit with the former, and wires 1 and 3 With the: latter. A push-button may be provided at each of the points to2 for signaling between the two ends of a train.

The operation of my invention is as follows." In theevent of an)7 break inthe train they couplers at that point` are disconnected and the shield or tongue of the circuit close1`,'un

derits own weight, or the action of the spring thereon, is lowered, causing the uninsulated` portion of one of the wires,'as 2, to engage the return Wire, as 4, and' thus close the circuit *andcause the ringing of the signal bell, say

At the same time" shields or tongues ofthe circuit closers'are ele-l vated 'the circuits are broken."

The advantages of Inyinvention are apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains and it Willbe particularly observed that I have provided inexpensive means for signaling in the event of any break in 'a train, and that the same being simple cannot read? ily get out of order or be deranged.

I claim as my invention-L l. The hereindescribed improvement in train signals, consisting of Wires in each car of a train connected in series,vsignals and batterie's at each end of the train,in circuitwith said wires, and devices at eac'n end'of a car,

said devices being provided with a fixed frameI and a pivote-d shutter,one of said Wires being secured to the frame and also to the shutter, and another wire to the shutter, so that when the shutter drops said Wires Contact, substalr tially as set forth.

2. In a train signal, a series of wires, and a circuit closer provided with a frame and a movable shield or tongue, said wires being extended into or mounted on said frame and tongue, one of them having an uuinsulated 66 portion, another of said wires also having an uninsulated portion extending across the plane of said former uunsu'lated portion, as y set forth.

3. In a train signal,aseries of wires,a txed 65 frame into which said w-ires extend, and a movable shield or tongue to which said wires are also connected, one ot' said wires having an un'ins'ulatedY portion extending from said shield or tongue, another of said Wires hav- 70 ing an uninsulatedportion in said frame con` tigu-ous to said" former uuinsulated portion,

both of said uninsulated portions being ``de" signed to con'tactwheu saidshield or'tongue is out of its:uornralposition,substantially7 as" 75 set forth.

4. In a train signal, a series of Wires, anda fixed frame into which said wires extend, the` same consisting of a frame'having au opening'orI cut away portion, `a shiel'dor tongue 8o movable shields or tongues through which said 9o wires are passed, two of said wires beingfar- 1angedso as to intersect; the plane of each" 1 other and designed to contact Whensaid shield ortougue is lowered, and couplers for uniting l" the corresponding wires of'adjacent carsthey 9 samelcomprising metallic plates,l inclosing tubes and clamps,substantially as set forth.

6. In a train signal, a series ot' wires,circu it ciosers into whichr said Wires extend having movable shields or tongues through which said ico Wires are passed, and 4couplersfor uniting the corresponding wires of adjacent cars, the same comprising metallic plates embeddediin gutta-percha at oue end, semi-cylindrical tubes,vand spring-held clamps encompassing 105 

